Cotton separator



J. C. GARNER.

COTTON SEPARATOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 17, I919. REN JULY 6.192I. 1,409,541-. Patented Mar. 14,1922.

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K Q i 3 Q N WITNESS: INV E TOR.

A TTORNE Y.

J. C. GARNER.

COTTON SEPARATOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. I7. 1919. RENEWED IULY 6.1921.

1 409 541 I Patented Mar. 14, 1922;

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2- I i i t m; I" J I w I JITNESS: INVE TOR.

m g flow WW BY I ATTORNEY.

J. C. GARNER.

COTTON SEPARATOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 17. 1919. RENEWED JULY 6. 1921.

1,409,541. atented Mar. 14, 1922.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

15 1 "1? WITNESS:

A TTORNE Y.

J. C. GARNER.

COTTON SEPARATOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.I7,19I9. RENEWED JULY 6.192].

1,409,541. Patented Mar. 14, 1922.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4- N TOR.

/ A TTORNE Y.

into the baling press.

JAMES C. GARNER, OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE PATENT OFFICE.

ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE GARNER GIN COMPANY, INC., 015 HOUSTON, TEXAS, A CORPORATION OF TEXAS.

COTTON SEPARATOR.

Application filed March 17, 1919, Serial No. 283,201.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that JAMES C. GARNER, a citizen of the United States, residin at Houston, in the county of Harris and tate of Texas, has invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Cotton Separator, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a cotton separator.

The object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described, designed for the purpose of receiving lint cotton, or other fibrous material from the gin, and separating the dust and other foreign matter therefrom, and forming the lint from. a loose and fluffy state into a comparatively compact bat, which is then delivered to the baling-press. In the handling of cotton, the lint is first separated from the seed by the gin, and as delivered from the gin, it usually contains considerable dust and other foreign matter. It is desirable that said dust and foreign matter be removed from the lint, and that the lint be converted from a loose and fiuify state into a bat before it is delivered For this purpose, the separator hereinafter described has been designed and embodying a foraminated drum through which an air current is created by suction, carrying with it, the dust and other foreign matter and depositing the lint on the periphery of the drum, and the lint is held on said drum by air pressure and is carried by it between the drum, and bat forming rollers, cooperating with the drum and is thereby formed into a bat before it is delivered into thebaling'press to be formed into a bale.

Another object of the invention is to providea separator and condenser of the character described, through which the lint-carrying current is generated by means of a suction fan, or other similar means.

A further feature of the invention resides in the provision of. a novel form of flue,

through which the lint is conducted from the gin and delivered in a uniform and even mass to the separator and condenser.

A still further feature of the invention resides in the rovision of a device of the character described, so constructed that the lint cotton will be carried in and deposited upon the forming drum, by means of suction and formed into a bat, and which is provided with means releasing the bat from Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 14, 1922. Renewed July 6, 1921. Serial No. 482,872.

I F igure 5, IS a fragmentary sectional view,

taken on the line 55'of Figure 4.

igure 6, is a fragmentary side elevation of one of the condenser roller bearings.

. igure 7'. is a sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of Figure 6.

Figure 8, is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 88 of Figure 1.

Figure 9, is a longitudinal sectional view, of the condenser roller which is mounted upon and driven by the counter drive shaft,

99 of Figure 10, and

transverse sectional view 10-1O of Figtaken on the line Figure-10, is a thereof, taken on the line ure 9.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, wherein like numerals of reference designate similar parts in each of the figures, the numeral 1, refers to a casing,

which is approximately cylindrical in cross sectional contour and the numeral 2, designates an inlet flue, through which the lint is delivered from the cotton gin. The discharge end of this flue is contracted, formn(iig a funnel shaped section 3, from WhlCh lea s a wide chute 4, which enters theupper part of the casing in the rear. The taperlng section 3 is :provided so that as the mass of but cotton enters it from the flue 2, a port1on of the lint will be retarded, and the suction through the chute 4 will cause an even dlstribution of the lint along the tapering section 3, thus causing the cotton to be evenly distributed. along the chute and to pass into the casing in an even and uniform mass.

A rotatable drum is mounted 'wlthln the casing and extends from end to end thereof. This drum is formed of secured to which are the lengthwise ion - wire 7,

by the numerals 24. Said rollers 24 are fixed.

\6, which are spaced a periphery W1 support the uniform distance apart, and arrangedradially. Around these bars, there is Wound spirally, the spring around which is Wrapped the Wire mesh 8, forming the periphery of the drum, thus formin a foraminated drum Whose l arrest the cotton but permit the air and the dust and other foreign matter to pass therethrough. Secured to each end of the casing, are the brackets 9, 9, which respective bearings 10, 10, through which the sleeves 11, extend. The inner end of'each sleeve projects inwardly beyond the corresponding bearing 10, and eachend of the condenser drum, hereinbefore described, has a bearing 12, which is fixed thereto, and which recelves the inner ends of and is supported by, the sleeves 11. The outer ends of the sleeves 11 are formed into annular flanges 13, which fit against the outer ends of the bearings 10, and are secured thereto by means of set screws 14,

which pass through the oblong slots 15, of said flanges and are tapped into said bearings "10. Adjusting screws 16 are threaded through the projecting fingers 17 formed integral with the bearings 10, and the inner ends of these adjusting screws rest against the rim of the corresponding flange 13. Means is thus provided for adjusting the condenser drum'to hold it centered relative to the casing. When it is desired to adjust said drum, the set screws 14:, may he loosened and the required adjustment made through the adjusting screws 16, and the set screws 14: then again tightened.

Fastened to each end of the condenser drum, but located outside'of the casing are the respective spur gears 18, 18, which are in mesh with the respective spur gears 19, 19, which are fixed upon the drive shaft 20. This shaft is rotatably mounted in suitable be'arings carried by the front side of the casing and fixed upon one end thereof, is the pulley 21, parted to said shaft and thence to the condenser drum. The shaft 20 carries the roller 22, which is in rolling contact with the condenser drum. This roller is fastened to the shaft by means of the spiral springs 23, 23, one arranged at each end within said roller, one end of each spring being attached to the shaft 20, and the other end thereof being secured to the roller 22. The roller 22 Is one of a series of bat formin rollers, the other'rollers of said series belng indicated upon the respective shafts 25, whose ends project through the oblong-slots'26, in the respective ends of the'casing, and are rotatable in the respective sliding bearings 27.

These-bearings are movable radially with respect to the condenser-drum, and move-in be deposited upon through which rotation is im- 28, 28, secured to the outer-side of the end plates of hj caslng l. The ,respec-' tive ends of the shafts 25 carry the spur gears 29, which are in mesh with and ro- 4 tated by the ear 18. Operating against the bearings 2 are the yieldable seats 30, which normally hold the rollers 24 in rolling contact with the condenser drum, but permit them to move radially relative thereto. Fixed to each end of the casing isa circular band 31, which is arranged concentric with respect to the condenser drum. This band is provided with a plurality of radial arms 32, which are integral therewith, and whose, outer ends rest upon bosses 33, which project out from the ends of the casing, and said arms are secured to the bosses by means of suitable setbolts, as 34. Fitted within the bands 31, are the inclosing hoods 35, which are secured in position by means of pass through said hoods and bands. These the corresponding suitable bolts 36, which apart, so that the hoods may be adjusted to any desired position. Leading from the respective hoods 35, are the air tubes 37, 37 which are united in a common suction pipe 38. The suction created will operate to carry the lint cotton from the gin through the flue 2, and the chute 4, and the same will the condenser drum, the air current passing throughthe foraminated periphery of said drum and carrying the dust and other foreign matter with it, and said air will pass out through the ends of the condenser drum into the hoods 35, and thence through the tubes 37 and the pipe 38. The condenser drum rotates in the direction indicated by the-arrow in Figure 8, and carries the lint cotton deposited thereon around between it and the bat formingrollers 22, and 24, said rollers yielding radially to permit the passage of the bat which is by them compressed and freed from excess air, and is dischargedthrough a discharge openlng provided in the bottom of the easingroller, it is necessary to restrict the air suction to a certairispecific sector of the condenser drum. In order 'to do this, I have fixed within the condenser drum, a cut-01f valve, aicuate in cross section, which extends from end to end of the drum and fits snugly-therein. This valve is formed of end plates 39, a plurality of spaced spiders, 40, and a surrounding cover, 41, formed preferably of. sheet metal, and supported by said. spiders. This cut-off valve is fixed through the medium of the end plates 39, andspiders 40, to the shaft '42. This shaft extends axially, through the condenser drum, and its ends terminate in the sleeves, 13, and are supported therein'by means of a plurality of adjusting screws 43, which are threaded through the bearing 10, and extend through aligned oblong slots in the corresponding sleeves 13, and whose inner ends support the correspondin ends of said shaft 42. Through the medi u'm Of'thG adjusting screws 43, the shaft 42 and said cut-ofl' valve may be adjusted to the proper position relative to the condenser drum. As illustrated in Figure 8, this valve is provided with a lateral passageway 44, extending from end to end thereof, and said valve limits or restricts the intake of air to a definite area of the condenser drum, and after the bat has passed said area, the suction is cut off and said bat is, freed from the influence thereof, and is released from said drum, thus providing for its discharge from the condenser. As illustrated in Figure 8, the top portion only of the condenser drum is exposed to air suction, and as said drum rotates, the lint deposited thereon, is deflected downwardly, by the transverse deflector 45, and passes between said drum and the bat forming rollers as above explained and thence out through the discharge opening 46. In order to prevent the intake of air through said discharge opening 46, and against the bat, which would cause a back pressure and retard the discharge of the bat from the condenser drum, I have provided a plurality of back pressure valves 47 which are anchored to the inside of the casing 1, and extend from end to end thereof. These valves are formed of flexible material, and extend radia ly with res ect to the condenser drum and the inner e ges are free, and rest against the front side of the respective bat forming rollers 22 and 24. These valves prevent the passage ofany air from the discharge opening 46, up around thecondenser drum, thus preventin an air current in opposition to the directlon of the movement of the bat.

It is to be observed that the lengthwise bars 6, entirely span the space between the periphery of the condenser drum and. the cut-off valve located therein and prevent an air current from entering the discharge opening 46, and passing through the foraminated drum and'jthen up around' between it and the said cut-ofl' valve, thus confining the inlet of air to the chute 4.

\Vhat I claim is:

1. The combination of a tapering inlet flue, a chute extending along said flue and adapted to receive lint and air therefrom through a suitable opening, a rotary foram- .inated bat-forming drum, means whereby the lint and air from said chute are conducted to a limited portion of the surface of said drum, air pipes which are connected with the interior of said drum at the ends thereof, means for causing an aircurrent topass through said inlet flue, chute, drum and pipes, adjustable means within the drum for preventing the air from passing through the foraminations of the same excepting at a limited area of the surface of the drum, yieldable bat-forming rollers bearing on said drum, means for preventing air from passing between said rollers to the outer surface of the hat which has been formed, and oirmnniermitially yielding means for rotating said bat-forming rollers.

2. A device of the character described, including a casing, a tapering inlet flue, a (mute leading from the side of the flue and entering the casing through which lint cotton may be discharged into said casing, air tubes leading from the ends of the casing and uniting in a common suction pi e, all forming an air conduit, a foraminater drum rotatably mounted in the casing and an air current generator connected to said pipe, by means of which an air current is created by suction through said conduit, said air current passing through said foraminated drum.

and causing the deposit of cotton thereon.

3. A device of the character described, including a casing, a flue, a chute leading from the flue and entering the casing through which fibrous material may be discharged into said casing, air tubes leading from the ends of the casing and uniting in a common suction pipe, all forming an air conduit, a foraminated drum rotatably mounted in said casing, an air current generator connected to said pipe and inducing by suction an air current through said conduit, the air pass ing through the foraminated drum and cansing the deposit of said material thereon, and condenser rollers in rolling contact with said drum and operatively geared with and rotated by the drum between which rollers and drum said material is carried by the rotation of the drum and formed into a bat.

4. A device of the character described, including a casing,"a flue, a chute leading from the flue and entering the casing through which fibrous material may be discharged into said casing, air tubes leading from the ends of the casing and uniting in a common suction pipe, all forming an air conduit, a foraminated drum rotatably mounted in said casing. an air current generator connected to said pipe and inducing anair current through said conduit, the air passing through the foraminated drum and causing the deposit of said material thereon. and condenser rollers in rolling contact with said-drum and held yieldingly thereagainst and operatively geared with and rotated by the drum between which rollers and drum said material is carried by the rotation of the drum and formed into a bat.

5. A device of the character described, including a casing, a conducting flue, a chute leading from the flue and entering the easing through which fibrous materialmay be discharged into said casing, air tubes leading from the ends of the casing and uniting in a common suction pipe, all forming an air conduit, a rotatable foraminated drum 'mounted in the casing, an air current generator connected to the pipe by means of which an air current is induced by suctlon throughsaid conduit, and through the foraminated drum, means arranged within the drum limiting the area of the periphery thereof through which said current is permitted to pass, and condenser rollers in rolling contact with, and held yieldingly against said drum, between whic rollers and the drum, said material is carried by the rotation of the drum and formed into a bat.

6. The combination of a rotary forami-.

nated bat-forming drum, means whereby lint and air are conducted to a limited portion of the surface of said drum, air pipes which are connected with the interior of said drum at the ends thereof, means for inducing by suction an air current to pass through said drum and pipes, means for preventmg the air from passing through the foraminations' ends of the casing and uniting in a common tilt suction pipe, all forming an air conduit, a foramjnated drum rotatably mounted in said casing, a plurality of condenser rollers in successive rolling contact with said drum; between which rollers and drum, said material is carried by the rotation of the drum, and formed into a bat, and back pressure valves fixed to the casing and extending from end to end, thereof, the inner edges of said valves being free and resting against the corresponding condenser rollers.

8. The combination of a rotary forami nated bat-forming drum, means whereby the lint and air are conducted to a limited portion of the surface of said drum, air pipes which are connected with the interior of said drum at the ends thereof, means for causingan air current to pass. through said drum and pipes, means for preventing the air from passing through the foraminations of the same excepting at a limited area of the, surface of the drum, bat-forming rollers bearing'on said drum, and means for preventing air from passing between said roll-- er to the outer surface of the bat which has been formed. f

9. The combination of a rotary foraminated bat-forming drum, means whereby the lint and air are conducted to a limited portion of the-surface of said drum, air pipes iaoasei 10. The combination of arotai'y forami-j nated bat-forming drum, means whereby the 1 lint and air are conducted to a limited tion of the surface of said drum,air plp'es' which are connected with the interior of said drum at the ends thereof, means for causing an air current to pass through said drum and pipes, means for preventing the air from passing through the foraminations of the same excepting at a limited area of the surface of the drum, a series of, bat-form ing rollers bearing on said drum, and back pressure valves bearing on said rollers for preventing air from passing between said. rollers to the outer surface of the batwhich hasbeen formed.

11. The combination of a rotary foraminated bat-forming drum having radial bars 6, means whereby the lint and air are conducted to a limited portion of the surface of said drum, air pipes which are connected with the interior of said drum at the ends thereof, means for causing an air current to pass through said drum and ipes, means within the drum contacting with said bars for preventing the air from passing through the foraminations of the drum excepting at a limited area of its surface, bat-forming rollers bearing on said drum, and means for preventing air from passing between said rollers to the outer surface of the bat which has been formed.

12. The combination of a rotary foraminated bat-forming drum, means whereby the l nt and air are conducted to a limited portiop of the surface-of said drum, air plpes whlch are connected with the interior of sa1d drum atthe ends thereof, means for causing an air current topass throu h said drum and pipes, means for preventing the air from passing through the foraminations of the same excepting at a limited area of thesurface of the drum, means at successive points around the drum for pressing the lint against the same to form a. bat, a'nd means for preventing air pressure on thevouter sur-' face of the bat which has been formed.

In testimonywhereof, he has signed his name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses- IJS C; GARNER.

itn'esses:

E. V. HARDWAY, I I i a liltl 

